Ball transfer mechanism for ball games



y 1951 D. D. LEVITT 2,551,023

BALL TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR BALL GAMES 7 Filed April 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 1, 1951 o. o. LEVlTT BALL TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR BALL GAMES Filed April 5, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w n w fl taken on line 22, Figure 1.

Patented May 1, 1951 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE BALL TRANSFER MECHANISM FOR BALL GAMES 9 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a game or amusement apparatus and more particularly to a coin-controlled apparatus which employs balls or like elements which are adapted to be projected by the player in the playing of the game.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide novel means for automatically presenting or transferring the playing balls or missiles in position for successive projection by the player simultaneously with the actuation of the coin slide to an operative playing position.

Another object is to provide a ball transfer mechanism under the control of the coin-slide which is simple, compact and inexpensive in construction and which is positive and reliable in operation.

A further object of the inventionis to provide an amusement apparatus of this character having, in combination with the ball transfer mechanism, an automatically operated means for givby the player. At one side of the playing board is a ball-projecting runway or channel 15 which opens at its upper or rear end onto such board ing the player a free ball as the resu t of his accomplishing a predetermined act in the playing of the game.

Other features of the invention reside in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan View of an amusement apparatus embodying my improvements. Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal section Figure 3 is an en arged cross section taken in the plane of line 3-3, Figure 1. Figure 4 is a fragmentary section a similar to Figure 2 but taken in the plane of the free-play actuating assembly on line ll, Figure 1. Figure 5 is a perspective diagrammatic view of the governing parts and the electric circuit for automatically actuating them.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

By way of example, my invention has been shown in connection with a conventional type of a ball-projecting game, wherein I ll indicates the frame or cabinet thereof which may be supported on legs (not shown) and which has a glass-covered forwardly-sloping ball board ll including ball impact elements I2 rising therefrom and disposed in any su table manner. The lowermost impact element, indicated at I3, will be referred to as the free-play impact element and when struck by a ball l4 rolling over the playing board will entitle the player to a free ball and will automatically initiate the presentation of an extra ball in position for operation and from which point the balls gravitate to the lower end of the board centrally thereof from which point they successively enter a pocket or recess l6 and are then deflected laterally by the curved wall I! of such pocket into a return trough or channel indicated generally by the numeral I 8 and whose bottom Wall is substantialy flush with or on the same plane as the playing surface of the game board. The lower or receiving end of the ball-projecting runway is in operative registering relation with a manuallyoperated plunger I9 mounted on the front wall of the cabinet l0 and of usual construction, whereby the bals are propelled one by one along the runway and onto the upper end of the playing board. The numeral 2|! indicates a coin slide of any well known construction which is mounted at the front end of "the cabinet and which sets the game for operation upon the deposit of the proper coin. At its inner or rear end this coin slide has an extension 2|, which, as will hereinafter appear, initiates the operation of a mechanism for transferring the returned balls resting in the trough l8 to a position for successive propulsion by the plunger 19 on to the upper or rear end of the p'aying board I l The return trough I8 is so designed that upon the insertion of a coin in the coin slide 20, the latter can be projected from the position shown in Figure 1 to that shown in Figure 2, and simultaneously therewith the balls in such trough are bodily elevated and transferred to an adjoining parallel discharge trough 22 whose bottom 23 slopes laterally toward and intersect the lower or front end of the ball-projecting runway I5 immed ately in advance of the plunger l9 to enable the balls to successively gravitate into the operating path of the latter, as shown in Figures 1 and 3. To this end the ball return trough inc udes a displaceable bottom or ba l-support in the form of a tray or platform 24 which spans playing a companion opening 25 in the playing board I! and is secured to one end of a rock lever 26 fulcrumed intermediate its ends for verticallyswinging movement on a bracket 21 depending from the board, as shown in Figure 2. Along its front edge this tray has a stop flange 28 against which the balls normally rest in a row while the opposite edge is unflanged'to permit the balls to roll laterally therefrom, during the transfer operation, into the adjoining discharge trough 22. The latter includes a depending, sloping flange 29 in opposing relation to the panel-flange 28 for properly guiding the balls into and maintaining them in a row in the return trough. Extending transversely over the latter and the discharge trough is a transparent protective hood or cover 30 which enables the operator to see the balls at all times.

Normally the ball-tray 2 assumes its lowered or trough position shown by full-lines in Figure 4 and byidotte'd lines in Figure 2, and is actuated by the coin slide 20 to its elevated or ball-transferring position through the medium of a horizontally-swingin rock 1ever.- 311-- pivoted intermediate its ends at 32 to the bottom side of the playing board and having a pin or tappet 33 at the end of one arm thereof in the path of travel of the coin-slide extension 2|. The other arm of this rock lever has a flexible connection, in the form of a spring 34'or-the like, which is joined at its other end to the free end ofrthetray-attached-roclelever 26: to: actuate the c' same to anelevated or :balletransferring position whemthe coin slide is-projected;ferwardly a-f-ter hithe deposit oi a-icoin, and which spring :also :1 functions to -,restore-the.-slide-actuated=rockrlever 3 l.-to.'its initialcposi-tioneupon therretraction ofthe es'coin slide.-, Anotherispring 35 is connected atone end to thesunderside ofthe playing-board and at .-:i-ts. otheriend-to the rear orrfreeend of the tray- .m-attached rock lever 28.: toe.constantly urge the ;,..-%latter/ to} its lowered: or-ball-receiving:position.

eDisposed in; :correlation with .--.the -,ball:-return supporting tray -2 4 is a means: for automatically and-(independently transferringorproj ecting a w- ;single ball: I 4; from -those returned to the trough:

s tawduringrtheiplaying oft-the game, into the disr charge trough 22- zshould the v;player *havecaused a ball: in playto strike the -impact. element l3 1 on the playing. board which \woi1ld .-thereupon :nsentitle the .player=to arfree ball sthatis, a:ba1l,, ":xa in addition to rthose. projected in. response to; the mractuation of .thecoin slidetat 13118931321111 ofplay of the:- game.- vForathis, purpose, the .=leading. end i aofHthe tray is provided with.-.an-opening36-- with ywhichfltheplunger. 33 of awertically-disposed: so1enoid38 is.-alined, -thelatter-being attached to "the-underside of the rplayin board. in the-mannershown inFigures sand 4. This solenoid ,and the impact element l3 areincluded in a-nor-mally opennelectric qcircuit: 39, use .WhiCh-MdTi-VeS its? 9 power from a transformen 4 I 'Ihe limpact elea lment I3 is-tiltably mounted, on..the,playing hoard in any suitablemanner and includes atdepending ,wstemAZiand a companion contactplate 43.which are. included: in. the. circuit and. constitutes, the;

; ,1 controlling SWitChrthfilBOf ,When a- .ball-.;i n .play ..str-ikes thisrimpactaelement it. is... deflected,-.las :1; shown. in Figure 4,. and mmentari1y ..closesthe switch 42,; 43. to..-energize.,the. solenoid.r,..There- Hupon; thesolenoid-plunger Bl is elevated through .eethe trayswopening 36..and. projects. the- .balll4 arresting inpthe-leadingsend ofithe-return trough into the dischargettrough 22,- as depicted in Fig- ..ure 4,..where it-gravitates into theball-projecting 1 runwaya I5.

I claim as vmy-invention:

-. 1-.- A ame ofuthecharacter described,.compris- .ling a playing v board including a ball-projecting runway, a transversely-extending return trough 2 1 at-its :front endinto which-the balls gravitate in? :a group. after vplay, raw dischargertrough disposed M touth rear-sand alongside of eandi-substantially arallelingsaid return .troughzand opening at: its

P ead ing: end :into'. said ,ballcprojectingz runway for n the gravitation Of -iiihfi'; ballsisuccessivelyi 6 959 for a playing operation, said return trough including a displaceable bottom for the balls, and means operatively connected to said displaceable trough-bottom for actuating it to an upwardlydisplaced rearwardly tilted position to transfer the balls as a group from the return trough into the discharge trough.

2. A coin-controlled game of the character gdescribed, comprising a playing board including 10 a ball-projecting runway and a ball" discharge trough extending transversely of the board at its front end and intersecting said runway for feed ingz'the. ballsethereto one at a time, means for projecting a ball fed into the runway onto the playing board, a return trough disposed forof'and alongside and paralleling said dis- ;charge:trough. -and into which the balls gravitate in a row after traversing the playing field, said-return trough including an elevating tray constituting the bottom thereof and normally disposed in a iowered position substantiallyflush a: with the;-playing-;:board,- and-means initiated-by =-::;.the player-zand operativelyconnected tosaid tray cforelevating it to a position to'transferthe balls sazbodily 'ztherefrom into the adjoining discharge citrough.

31 A game of: thecharacter described, compris- Ti ing azzplayingboard including a 'ball-projecting 'rs.- runway, a=return*trough;into whichpthesballs m grayitate; in a: groupafter play, a discharge trough disposedyalongside ciland substantially *r tpara-lleling said-vreturn-troughtandi opening at 2;; itsleading end into, said-ball-projecting runway aziforthe-gravitation of the balls successively there- 35: tozfora: piaying operation;said return trough including a displaceable bottom for the 'balls, a r-rrock lever fulcrumed; on--the underside of the -playing--'boardt andon-one arm of which said .displaceable bottom of the-return trough is g: attached;:meansbonnected to said rock lever for :zxnormally urging it: in a-direction'to bring the -;-displaceable-bottom.--into a ball-receiving position, and player-initiated means operatively con- ;r'nected to -saidr rock'leverfor=elevating i-t-to a 4s-position to'transfer'the balls as a unit from such trough-bottom "into the discharge.- trough.

4. A coin-controlled game. ofruthegcharacter described, comprising a playing board: includ- -.-;ing a ball-projecting -runway and a transverse to bal-l-:=dischargetrough atits;frontr-end-intersect- --ing zisaid-runway for feeding -the 7 balls thereto :xme at ar -time,.means-for'projecting a ballfed into. thejrunway onto the playing board, a.-vertically-swinging- --rock level: fulcrumed on, the underside ofztheplayingboard and 'havinga ballreceivingtray on'one of the;;arms thereof 'for 7".'-ITE06iV iIl:'l/h8. ballsafter rolling over" the board ---:and-:;exposed-:on-the"surface of theboard alongside and paralleling thedischarge trough, a horifi0:-zontall-y-swinging lever fulcrumed on-the under side of-saidboard in operative engagement with :asaidrock-levenand a coinslide for operative en- --;gagement with said horizontally-swinging lever uponranoperative stroke being imparted thereh 65. to for actuating said rock lever in a-direction to means in operative relation to said return trough and engageable with a ball resting therein for transferring such ball into the discharge trough,

and ball-engaging means disposed on the playoperative governing relation to said displaceable means for automatically rendering the latter operative to transfer a ball from the return trough into the discharge trough whenever a ball .in play makes contact with such ball-engaging means.

6. A coin-controlled game of the character described, comprising a playing board including a ball-projecting runway and a ball discharge trough-intersecting said runway for feeding the balls thereto one at a time, means for projecting a ball fed into the runway onto the playing board, a displaceable return trough alongside said discharge trough and into which the balls gravitate after rolling over the playing board, means connected to the return trough and actuated in response to the registering of a coin deposited for playing the game, for shifting said return trough to a position for bodily transferring the balls resting thereon into the discharge trough, and means disposed in correlation with said return trough for movement independent thereof and operatively engageable with a ball resting therein for transferring it into said discharge trough.

7. A coin-controlled game of the character described, comprising a playing board including a ball-projecting runway and a ball discharge trough intersecting said runway for feeding the balls thereto one at a time, means for projecting a ball -fe'd into the runway onto the playing board,

a displaceable return trough alongside said discharge trough and into which the balls gravitate after rolling over the playing board, means connected to the return trough and actuated in response" to the registering of a coin deposited for playing the game for shifting said return trough to a po'sition for bodily transferring the balls resting thereon into the discharge trough, means disposed in correlation with said return trough for movement independent thereof and operatively engageable with a ball resting therein for transferring it into said discharge trough, and means on the playing board and governed by a ball in play for rendering said last-named means operative to transfer a ball into such discharge trough.

8. Afcoin-controlled game of the character described, comprising a playing board including a ball-projecting runway and a ball discharge trough intersecting said runway for feeding the balls thereto one at a time, means for projecting a ball fed into the runway onto the playing board, a displaceable return trough alongside said discharge trough and into which the balls gravitate after rolling over the playing board, means connected to the return trough and actuated in response to the registering of a coin deposited for playing the game for shifting said retur'n trough to a position for bodily transferring the balls resting thereon into the discharge trough, means disposed in correlation with said return trough for movement independent thereof and operative- 1y engageable with a ball resting therein for transferring it into said discharge trough, said independent ball-transferring means includin a solenoid having its plunger in registering relation with the ball to be transferred, an electric circuit including said solenoid, and a ball impact element on the playing board including normally-open switch means in said circuit for governing the actuation of the independent ball-transferring means.

9. In a game board over which balls are adapted to roll, a return trough disposed crosswise at the front end thereof into which the balls gravitate after play, said trough including a displaceable bottom on which the returned balls rest in a group and having a stop flange along its front edge and an opening adjacent one end thereof, means for actuating said displaceable troughbottom in a direction to discharge the balls bodily therefrom to a play position and other means disposed below and in registering relation to the 1 opening in said return trough and operative independently of the displaceable bottom thereof for projection upwardly through said opening and engageable with the registering ball for discharging it therefrom to a position for play.

DAVID D. LEVIT'I'.

The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,313,783 Blackburn Aug. 19, 1919 1,788,323 Peo Jan. 6, 1931 2,051,229 Tigerman Aug. 18, 1936 2,054,616 Durant Sept. 15, 1936 2,127,261 Kramer et a1 Aug. 16, 1938 2,136,060 Shyvers Nov. 8, 1938 

